Mary Symes-Leith

1939 - 2023

Beloved Matriarch Mary Symes-Leith, 83, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away peacefully on March 5th after bravely battling a long illness. A long time Staten Islander who lived in the Silver Lake area of West Brighton, Mary was born on June 28, 1939 to William and Margaret Symes in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Mary graduated from St. Edmund's High School in 1957 and later went on to study social work at the College of Staten Island, and received her Master's in the same from Fordham University. She began her career as a Social Worker at Staten Island Memorial Hospital, and later at St. Vincent's Hospital where she dedicated her 25 year career to the well-being and care of all people. In 2004, Mary retired and spent her time with life-long friends and family. Mary was a parish member of St. Patrick's Church in Bay Ridge, where she had also attended elementary school. Mary eventually relocated to Sarasota, Florida to enjoy her golden years. Throughout her younger years, Mary had been an avid jogger and could often be found running in Silver Lake Park. She loved art, theater, Yorkshire Terriers and family vacations in Vermont. With unswerving dedication to her family, Mary was the quintessential Matriarch, passing along generations of family traditions and values, particularly the recipes that adorn every Leith family holiday table. Mary is survived by her sisters Nancy Hersom and Kay Junsch; sons William and Jeremy; daughter Amy; grandchildren Maggie, Anita, Eric and Nikolas, as well as great-grandchildren Olivia, AJ and Billy. A Catholic Rite of Committal will take place at the Symes' family resting place in St. Columban's Cemetery in Arlington, Vermont.